A Mark Sugrue goal was key to Cork winning their third consecutive U21 Munster title in front of a crowd of 1,775 in Semple Stadium last night. A blistering five-minute blast in which they scored as many points set them on their way to an All-Ireland semi-final against Cavan on Saturday week, having trailed Tipperary by one at half-time. However, Sugrue’s emphatic 47th minute finish, after some neat work by Luke Connolly and Brian Hurley down the left wing before squaring the ball, put them five ahead and virtually out of Tipperary’s sight.

Cork had looked hasty in the first half but rocked Tipperary between the 34th and 39th minute when they went four ahead with Alan Cadogan and Connolly impressing in a scintillating spell. Tipperary, via a brace from Shane Leahy, settled themselves and a more composed Billy Hewitt may have beaten David Hanrahan with a close-range shot but then Sugrue’s goal virtually ended the affair. Cork rubbed further salt in Tipperary’s wounds with Dan Mac Eoin popping over three scores in-a-row to extend their lead to eight. The home team, who scored four points to Cork’s 1-13 second half tally, could only manage a Liam McGrath free in return. There was still time for Mac Eoin and substitute Kevin Hallissey to fire shots at Gearóid Slattery’s net. Although they were denied, the points continued to rain over the Tipperary goalkeeper’s head as his team’s heart went out of it.

It was a different Tipperary team in the first half, mind, McGrath’s third free in the second minute of additional time ensuring they went in ahead by one at the break, 0-5 to 0-4. Given the amount of chances they created, they probably deserved it even though Cork threatened to open them up on several occasions. Tipperary didn’t score from play until the 27th minute when Jason Lonergan, who had come on for Bill Maher, fired one over. Lonergan appeared to inject more life into the Tipperary team that had five wides in the opening half.

If Cork were guilty of being too pressing, Tipperary were ponderous and were also dispossessed a number of times. A McGrath free opened the scoring in the fifth minute and it may have been followed by a Tipperary goal but for Shane Leahy blazing a shot wide when confronted by Hanrahan. With Clancy’s and John O’Rourke’s surges through the middle causing Tipperary difficulties, Cadogan opened Cork’s account in the eighth minute and was followed by a Sugrue score six minutes later.

Another McGrath free after Michael Quinlivan had been fouled levelled matters in the 17th minute but Tipperary’s inside pair were living on scraps as Alan Cronin dutifully performed the sweeper role for Cork. A Hurley free, after he had been brought down by Seamus Kennedy, and Clancy’s goal chance, which flew over for a point, doubled Cork’s advantage but the introduction of Lonergan turned things in Tipperary’s favour. The replacement’s score was the first of three for them with Steven O’Brien flying over an effort, which was laid on by a fine Paddy Dalton run, and then McGrath put Tipperary ahead for the second time in the game after Shane Leahy had been fouled. It proved to be but a brief advantage for David Power’s side as Cork’s power prevailed.

The Cork team shows one change in personnel from the semi-final win over Limerick, with Seán Kiely coming in at wing forward. John O’Rourke moves to mid-field, with Tom Clancy moving to corner back in place of Brian O’Driscoll.

Cork are going for their third Munster Under 21 Football title in a row. The last sequence of victories for Cork came from 2004 to 2007 when they won four titles on the trot – each of them against different opposition in the final (Kerry, Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary). Cork have also won 3 or more Munster titles in a row in this competition from 1969-1971, 1979-1981, 1984-1986.

Kerry won five Munster Under 21 Football titles in a row from 1995 to 1999, winning the All-Ireland in three of those five years – 1995, 1996 and 1998.

Though Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary have won this competition in this millennium, the combined record of the so called four weaker counties since 2000 is played 82, won 30, lost 51 and drawn 3 – a winning percentage of 37%.

Munster Under 21 Football Cup

Corn na Cásca presented by the Football Council in 1966 to commemorate the jubilee of the 1916 Rising.

All Ireland Under 21 Football Championship

In Under 21 Football All Ireland Roll of Honour Cork have won 11 Titles and Kerry have 10 Titles to their credit.Cork were All Ireland Under 21 Champions in1970, 1971, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1994, 2007, 2009.Kerry titles were won in1964, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2008